BB: Central Region Rankings

[BigPoppa]

It's hard to disagree with the rankings.  It appears that the IIAC is better than ever.  There is a very nice top tier of teams in this league, with the second tier being capable as well (and one really bad team).

IIAC is 70-41 in non-conference play = .631
CCIW is 65-37 in non-conference play = .637
SLIAC is 39-70 in non-conference play = .358
MWC is 51-76 in non-conference play = .402

It appears to be a two-conference region.  I agree that it would be nice if one of the IIAC teams pulled away and proved to be more elite than the other teams, but be careful not to connect a league that has a lot of parity with a league that doesn't have good/great teams.

+K

[wustlfan37]

1. Carthage 14-4 CCIW (Defense could be their downfall as they commit too many errors to keep overcoming them)
2. North Park 19-5 CCIW (Still not completely sold on this team yet, but they continue to win games)
3. Augustana 16-4 CCIW (read same as North Park's comments)
4. Ill Wesleyan 13-6 CCIW (2 CCIW losses and have yet to play Carthage, NPU, North Central or Augustana... tough spot for IWU to contend from)
5. Webster 15-4 SLIAC (Only obstacle in their way looks to be Spalding who cannot play in the post-season... advantage, Webster!)
6. Simpson 15-7 IIAC (Someone needs to step up and take this conference soon... it is getting dull to watch)
7. North Central 11-7 CCIW (will hit the soft part of their CCIW schedule soon and their record will jump)
8. Coe 16-7 IIAC (Same as Simpson)
9. Spalding 16-7 SLIAC (I really wish they could face the Gorloks with is all on the line in the SLIAC tourney)
10. Buena Vista 14-8 IIAC (Same as Simpson)
11. WashU 21-13 IND Will the be saved by their SoS? Losing in-region games to Luther and Coe will not help them)
12. Luther 15-8 IIAC (Same as Simpson)

Notably absent is any MWC team. What a mess of a conference right now. Not even sure where to start.

WashU did not play Luther - they split with Central as well as Coe.

I'm confused as to what you're basing these rankings on...you've ranked North Central 7th because of presumed wins they will get in the future - their winning percentage does not justify their ranking.  You have Coe below Simpson, despite Coe having relatively deep pitching and one of the best offenses in the country.  Having watched (read: pitched against) IWU and Coe, IWU has several good pitchers (one stud), but Coe is MUCH stronger both defensively and at the plate.   

Spalding has beaten absolutely no one, yet they're in these rankings.  Why?  If Spalding is there, where's Dubuque? 

Basically, I'm saying that these rankings are too CCIW heavy, there isn't enough respect given to the IIAC, and strength of schedule is almost completely disregarded.  I'm not trying to be a jerk, but these rankings leave a lot to be desired.

I completely understand if you dock me karma points :-)  - I do have a deep appreciation for what you guys do for D3 baseball

[BigPoppa]

Being the Wash U guy that you are, I can understand that you feel SoS is undervalued. However, do you really think Wash U, with 11 losses, would be here if SoS was not accounted for?

[wustlfan37]

Being the Wash U guy that you are, I can understand that you feel SoS is undervalued. However, do you really think Wash U, with 11 losses, would be here if SoS was not accounted for?

I'm certainly aware that you account for SoS - that's why you have Webster 5th, which is probably about where they belong.  And it's also tough to gauge exactly how strong a schedule is without calculating the formula, something that most, myself included, don't have the time or patience to do.  That being said, a very good indication of the strength of a team is beating quality opponents, which is more easily quantifiable.  WashU has beaten IWU, CSS, Coe, Central, Case Western, Brandeis, Illinois College, who are all well over .500. 

WashU has to play well down the stretch to earn a regional bid, but ranking them 11th in the region is ridiculous.  I have more issues with your rankings from 6-12 than I do with the top.  I just don't understand how 11-7 North Central can belong at 7 and 15-8 Luther can belong at 12, unless SoS is a huge factor....and if it's a huge factor, then WashU's brutal schedule should put them somewhere around 6 or 7 in the region.

[BigPoppa]

Maybe I am too much of a CCIW homer, but who else has made an impact on the national level in the last twenty years outside of the CCIW teams? Wartburg possibly, but that is about it.

If you have followed the Pool B boards at all, I have been one of the biggest backers of WashU and their SoS. My point is that if WashU wants to be higher in the poll, then they need to stop splitting games with IIAC teams they feel they should be ahead of. Looking at not just who WashU beat, but who they lost to, I see four terrible losses that could haunt them at selection time... Westminster, Dominican, Emory and Illinois College (you can't lose those games and then claim your ranking/lack of selection is unfair).

Out of curiosity, what would your top ten regional teams look like?

[wustlfan37]

Maybe I am too much of a CCIW homer, but who else has made an impact on the national level in the last twenty years outside of the CCIW teams? Wartburg possibly, but that is about it.

If you have followed the Pool B boards at all, I have been one of the biggest backers of WashU and their SoS. My point is that if WashU wants to be higher in the poll, then they need to stop splitting games with IIAC teams they feel they should be ahead of. Looking at not just who WashU beat, but who they lost to, I see four terrible losses that could haunt them at selection time... Westminster, Dominican, Emory and Illinois College (you can't lose those games and then claim your ranking/lack of selection is unfair).

Out of curiosity, what would your top ten regional teams look like?

Definitely a valid point about the losses - that being said, it's baseball, and almost every team has a few bad losses on their resume.  Westminster and Dominican do hurt, but is it enough to cancel out the phenomenal wins that few in the central region have?

My top ten:

1. Carthage
2. Augustana
3. North Park
4. IWU
5. Webster
6. WashU
7. Coe
8. Simpson
9. Buena Vista
10. Spalding/Luther

The IIAC teams are somewhat interchangeable to me, but we essentially agree on the top 5.  WashU has three games against Webster this week, that should make things a little clearer. 

[BigPoppa]

I agree with your assessment on the region. It is always hard to get a read on WashU as they are essentially an independent (UAA is not much help in the factoring). So much has yet to shake out that will be clear in two weeks with conference games. IWU is a tough spot as they need to get hot as they may take a few more CCIW dings from Carthage(3), Augie(1), NPU (3) and NCC(3)... that is ten more games against what most think are the region's top teams.

[BigPoppa]

A lot of this could be sorted out this weeknd as Cathage and Augustana have a three game set as well as IWU and North Park. The CCIW's/Central Region's top four are going toe-to-toe.

WashU has to be careful to not get tripped up by a surprising Principia team.

The IIAC could get even tighter this weekend as many top teams face off.

[upandin]

I would like to take a crack at this one.  Let me say that judging by the upcoming conference matchups I think a lot of questions can be answered in the next couple weeks.  In the CCIW the top teams need to play each other.  As of now they have all just beat on Millikin, Elmhurst, and Wheaton. Can't wait to see how some of these matchups go.  The CCIW has 5 teams that could be in the mix come May.   In the IIAC I think they also have 5 teams that can be in the mix.  Again the problem is the top 3 teams have not played each other yet.  In the SLIAC, it still goes through Webster, unfortunately for them they have to win them all to get any respect.  Wash U is having a good year. Being an independent is tuff, but I like that they are going out and playing regional teams.  The MWC is a mess I don't know that there is a regional caliber team in there, but if I had to choose one now it would have to be Beloit.  I guess?  Here is my top 10 as of today.

1.   Carthage   Clear cut right now
2.   Augustana   Wheaton is the only sub-par loss
3.   Webster      Some good In-region wins, Bad loss to Greenville
4.   Buena Vista    This week will be telling, but I still think they are the best in the IIAC
5.   Ill Wesleyan   I think they can be the next best CCIW team.  Good Split with Augy
6.   Wash U       Have played the most big games, Have won the most big games
7.   Simpson      Was a surprise early, but should have been swept at Wartburg. 
8.   Coe      Have had some sub-par losses, Match-up with BV this weekend will be telling
9.   North Park   I think they will end up further up this list but they have to prove they are top 3 CCIW
10.   North Central   Probably where they belong, taking 2 of 3 from NP helped to bring NP down the list.

Should be fun to see things play out in the next couple weeks. 

[TheSportsFan]

1. Carthage
2. Augustana
3. Illinois Wesleyan
4. Coe
5. Webster
6. Buena Vista
7. North Park
8. North Central
9. Simpson
10. Wash U
Next Tier To Watch: Dubuque (14-7), Luther (15-8), Spalding (16-7)
Biggest Disappointment: Central

[BigPoppa]

Biggest Disappointment: Central

Could not agree more! I had big plans for them this year as a breakthrough team, but they have left me hanging to this point.

[Gregory Sager]

Being the Wash U guy that you are, I can understand that you feel SoS is undervalued. However, do you really think Wash U, with 11 losses, would be here if SoS was not accounted for?

I'm certainly aware that you account for SoS - that's why you have Webster 5th, which is probably about where they belong.  And it's also tough to gauge exactly how strong a schedule is without calculating the formula, something that most, myself included, don't have the time or patience to do.  That being said, a very good indication of the strength of a team is beating quality opponents, which is more easily quantifiable.  WashU has beaten IWU, CSS, Coe, Central, Case Western, Brandeis, Illinois College, who are all well over .500.

The Bears have also lost to Westminster (9-12) and Dominican (6-16).

[theoneandonly]

I just want to throw this out there, Webster plays AT WashU tomorrow. Should be a great regional matchup and possibly mix up a few of your rankings, but only a little bit 

[ballfan55]

Biggest Disappointment: Central

Could not agree more! I had big plans for them this year as a breakthrough team, but they have left me hanging to this point.

And neither St. Norbert or Ripon are on the most disappointing list?

[Gregory Sager]

9.   North Park   I think they will end up further up this list but they have to prove they are top 3 CCIW

I'm fine with this assessment. NPU is 7-4 against teams with winning records thus far this season, but I think that the Vikings are going to be overlooked until the program becomes a consistent winner from year to year the way that Augie, Carthage, and IWU have been. Reputation is what counts in the eyes of observers that haven't actually seen a specific team firsthand.

NPU has had some injury setbacks, but Luke Johnson has the Vikings playing very solid ball right now. There's a lot of heavily-experienced seniors on this year's team, so it's poised to do well. This weekend's series against Illinois Wesleyan at North Park's Holmgren Athletic Complex should be a good one. I'm really looking forward to it.